TWO war heroes have been honoured in North Warnborough and Odiham as part of a blue plaque scheme.

The Reverend William Addison and Brigadier Manley James, both former Robert May’s School pupils, received the Victoria Cross for their exploits during the First World War.

Last Saturday, Councillor Jonathan Glen, who represents Odiham on Hampshire County Council, unveiled the two plaques at the former homes of the two men.

Mr Addison lived for a time in Dunleys Hill, North Warnborough, before moving to Kent at the age of 13, while Mr James lived in High Street, Odiham.

The plaques are part of a scheme by The Odiham Society to create a heritage trial by honouring the buildings and people from the village’s past.

A group of members from The Odiham Society attended each unveiling.

Committee member Derek Kearns said: “It is part of the heritage of Odiham. People walk down the High Street and do not appreciate how old these buildings are and who lived in them. This helps put the meat on the bones of the fact that this is an important heritage village.”

Mr Addison was only one of four chaplains to be awarded the Victoria Cross during the First World War. He braved machine gun fire on April 9, 1916 to rescue wounded soldiers at Sanna-i-Yat in North Africa.

Mr James won recognition for his stand against a German counter attack at Velu Wood in northern France in which he was wounded three times before being captured.

He later won a Distinguished Service Order for his command of a brigade in North Africa during the Second World War.